An observational study in Carotid Atherosclerosis, Carotid Artery Stenosis Asymptomatic and Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis, sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine. Not yet recruiting at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-04.
Sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine · Observational
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the feasibility of imaging atherosclerosis by 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET-MR in a pilot study of patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS). The main question it aims to answer is:
Can 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET detect carotid atherosclerosis in patients with ACAS?
Uptake of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF as measured by PET-MR will also be correlated to anatomic features of plaque on MRI, outcomes for patients treated with optimal medical therapy (OMT) alone or OMT and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) surgery, and tissue measurements for patients undergoing CEA surgery. The ability of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF to risk stratify ACAS patients treated with OMT alone with respect to patient outcomes will be determined.
Participants will
This study is a Phase 1, multicenter, open-label baseline controlled imaging study designed to assess whether 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET-MR can detect carotid atherosclerosis in patients with ACAS. A total of 30 subjects, both men and women (≥18 years of age), will be recruited at Washington University and Cedars Sinai, with approximately 25 patients recruited at Washington University and approximately 5 patients recruited at Cedars Sinai. Patients will receive a single intravenous (IV) bolus injection of 8-10 mCi of the investigational radiotracer 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF followed by dynamic PET-MR imaging for up to 60 minutes and a second optional scan between 1-4 hours post-injection. Patients will undergo 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET-MR imaging of both carotid arteries. Both carotid arteries will be imaged at the same time.
At the time of imaging, the investigators will record baseline medications to include any antiplatelet, statin, anti-hypertension, and diabetes medications (OMT), as well as basic risk factors and social history (e.g. diabetic, hypertensive, smoker, hypercholesterolemia). A physical examination will be performed at screening and prior to discharge. Vital signs will be obtained at baseline pre-injection, post-injection following each imaging session, and prior to discharge. Blood will be drawn at screening or baseline and prior to discharge to assess for interval change in serum chemistries and complete blood count. Urine will be collected at screening or baseline and prior to discharge to assess for interval change in urinalysis results. Blood samples will be obtained from all subjects at Washington University for radiolabeled metabolite analysis. Two-mL blood samples will be obtained at screening/baseline pre-injection and at 5 minutes and 30 minutes post 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF injection.
Telephone follow-up will occur within 48-72 hours (2-3 days) after discharge and every 3 months (+/- 5 days) to assess for ipsilateral ischemic cerebrovascular event (transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke) or remote ipsilateral carotid intervention.
We hope to demonstrate differences in PET SUV (Standardized Uptake Value) in the significantly atherosclerotic artery in comparison to the PET SUV in the artery that is not significantly diseased.
We will also determine whether PET SUV of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF correlates to anatomic features of plaque on MRI. The presence and volumes of various plaque components including lipid pool, fibrous cap, and intraplaque hemorrhage will be determined from the MR images. We will determine the ability of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF to risk stratify ACAS patients treated with OMT alone with respect to patient outcomes. PET signal will be assessed as a marker of risk for event or progression to CEA surgery in comparison to anatomic features of vulnerable plaque on MRI, with the goal of determining 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET signal above which suggests ACAS at higher risk for causing stroke. In patients who undergo CEA surgery, the ex vivo post-operative plaque specimen will be collected and PET uptake will be correlated to tissue measurements including the American Heart Association classifications of atherosclerosis and tissue presence of NPR-C.
258 studies on the registry are indexed under Carotid Artery Diseases; 59 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 30 is below the median of 217 across 113 observational studies indexed under Carotid Artery Diseases.
Browse Carotid Artery Diseases studies →Washington University School of Medicine is the lead sponsor of 1,801 studies on the registry; 273 are open to participants now.
Of its 329 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 216 (66%) have results posted.
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Individuals ≥18 years of age with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) patients with known carotid artery atherosclerosis by ultrasound/Doppler or other carotid imaging with ≥ 60% diameter stenosis who are clinically referred for OMT alone.
Drug: 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF
Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) patients with known carotid artery atherosclerosis by ultrasound/Doppler or other carotid imaging with ≥ 60% diameter stenosis who are clinically referred for OMT and CEA.
Drug: 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF
Patients will receive a single intravenous (IV) injection of 8-10 mCi of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF for PET-MR imaging at the imaging visit.
Comparison of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET SUV (Standardized Uptake Value) between the atherosclerosis of the target diseased carotid artery and the non-diseased contralateral carotid artery or non-diseased vertebral artery
PET uptake of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF will be quantified as SUV. For each subject, PET SUV will be measured in the atherosclerosis of the diseased carotid artery and in a region of non-disease in the contralateral carotid artery, or if the contralateral carotid is completely diseased, a portion of non-diseased vertebral artery. Mean SUV in the atherosclerosis of the diseased carotid arteries will be compared to mean SUV in the non-diseased contralateral carotid arteries or non-diseased vertebral arteries.
Time frame: Up to 4 hours post-injection of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF
Correlation of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET uptake to American Heart Association (AHA) stage of atherosclerotic plaque as determined by MRI
Patients with carotid atherosclerosis will be imaged with 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET-MR. MRI is acquired simultaneously with 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET. MR images will be evaluated for AHA plaque stage. PET uptake of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF will be quantified as SUV. PET signal (SUV) will be compared between patients with different AHA stages of atherosclerotic plaque.
Time frame: Up to 4 hours post-injection of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF
Correlation of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET uptake to absence or presence of atherosclerosis as determined by MRI
Patients with carotid atherosclerosis will be imaged with 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET-MR. MRI is acquired simultaneously with 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET. MR images will be evaluated for absence or presence of atherosclerosis. PET uptake of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF will be quantified as SUV. PET signal (SUV) will be compared between patients with absence or presence of atherosclerosis.
Time frame: Up to 4 hours post-injection of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF
Correlation of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET uptake to absence or presence of lipid core as determined by MRI
Patients with carotid atherosclerosis will be imaged with 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET-MR. MRI is acquired simultaneously with 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET. MR images will be evaluated for absence or presence of lipid core. PET uptake of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF will be quantified as SUV. PET signal (SUV) will be compared between patients with absence or presence of lipid core.
Time frame: Up to 4 hours post-injection of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF
Correlation of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET uptake to absence or presence of hemorrhage as determined by MRI
Patients with carotid atherosclerosis will be imaged with 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET-MR. MRI is acquired simultaneously with 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET. MR images will be evaluated for absence or presence of hemorrhage. PET uptake of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF will be quantified as SUV. PET signal (SUV) will be compared between patients with absence or presence of hemorrhage.
Time frame: Up to 4 hours post-injection of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF
Correlation of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET uptake to outcomes
PET uptake of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF will be quantified as SUV. We will determine the ability of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF to risk stratify ACAS patients with respect to patient outcomes. Patients will be contacted every 3 months after PET-MR imaging to assess for interval ipsilateral ischemic cerebrovascular event (transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke) or remote ipsilateral carotid intervention. PET signal will be assessed as a marker of risk for event or progression to CEA surgery. 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET signal (SUV) will compared between patients who experienced or did not experience an ipsilateral ischemic cerebrovascular event (TIA, stroke) or remote ipsilateral carotid intervention (carotid endarterectomy (CEA) surgery or stent placement).
Time frame: Up to 4 years following PET-MR imaging
Correlation of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET uptake to American Heart Association (AHA) stage of atherosclerotic plaque as determined by histology on ex vivo tissue specimens for patients undergoing CEA surgery
PET uptake of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF will be quantified as SUV. In patients who undergo CEA, the ex vivo post-operative plaque specimen will be collected. Tissue measurements will include American Heart Association (AHA) plaque stage as an indicator of plaque vulnerability. AHA stage of atherosclerotic plaque will be determined by assessment of hematoxylin and eosin (H\&E), Verhoeff-Van Gieson (VVG), and pentachrome stained specimens. 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET signal (SUV) obtained from images pre-surgery will be compared between patients with different AHA stages of atherosclerotic plaque on the surgical tissue specimen.
Time frame: Immediately after surgery
Correlation of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET uptake to expression of targeted receptor, NPR-C, by immunohistochemistry on ex vivo tissue specimens for patients undergoing CEA surgery
PET uptake of 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF will be quantified as SUV. In patients who undergo CEA, the ex vivo post-operative plaque specimen will be collected. Tissue measurements will include expression of NPR-C by immunohistochemistry. 64Cu-NODAGA-CANF PET signal (SUV) obtained from images pre-surgery will be correlated to expression of NPR-C on the surgical tissue specimen.
Time frame: Immediately after surgery
Plan to share: Undecided
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Nov 2026; primary completion for May 2027, 6 months later.
Of 50 observational studies under Carotid Artery Diseases, half reached primary completion within 50 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 36 and three quarters within 94. This study's planned 6 months is below that.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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